A 1996 Commencement Speech Salman Rushdie

A 1996 Commencement Speech

Salman Rushdie, India (1947-)

Salman Rushdie was condemned to death by the former Iranian  Spiritual Leader. Ayatollah Ruhallahkhoment on Feb. 14^th 1989 after publishing the Satanic Verses. He says students shouldn't bow down their heads, be slaves of the authorities rather they should challenge even good and guided by their own better nature.

b. Write four levels of meanings to " A 1996 Commencement Speech"

Literal Comprehension:  "A 1996 Commencement Speech" is graduation speechgiven by a famous Indian born writer, Salman Rushdie to the students of Bard College, New York in 1996. He was given honorary degree by Bard College on that occasion. While giving speech Rushdie remembers of his graduation day, 1968 from Cambridge University. A few night before of his graduation some unknown persons threw bucketful gravy-onion in his room. Salman was accused for this fault and punished. Again, when he had gone to graduation program with brown shoes he was rejected asking to wear black shoes. At the nick hour of ceremony he had to return for black shoes. In the ceremony also he had to kneel down to ask for degree in Latin language with Vice-chancellor. He did as authority ordered him. When he was giving this speech he repented saying that he shouldn’t have paid up, should not have changed the shoes and should not have knelt down. Doing compromise, he did crime accepting injustice and domination. Rushdie said due to his three years hard work and parents’ investment he was qualified to get B.A. degree not freely given by university. Taking education is right of students not any body is favor.

Rushdie pointed out the Irani leader declared his death notice but he was saved by Bard College. Taking about any supreme authority and power, Rushdie said even god has done many crimes and cruelties. God has not created the world and human beings rather people have created Him. Because of people’s belief and mercy there is the existence of god. Arachne, Prometheus had challenged the misdeeds of goods. There could be money-god, etc. If god do crimes over humans why to respect them. Being radical Rushdie encouraged students that we must be guides by our personal will or personal nature. If possible, we should follow our better natures than bad ones.

Interpretation: This speech given by one of the renowned scholars of the world might be advocating the call for freedom of expression. It points out that everyone should be guided by her personal nature-possible by better nature. By any condition one shouldn’t bow down and follow others domination and order. As Salman Rushdie accepted the order for dead rules he repented for that later. It might be questioning about the existence of god and His power. God Himself has done a lot of crimes because of our faith but not the god has created us. Freedom and right can’t be achieved by mercy, begging and bow down rather by snatching. It also encourages to all to fight against any unfair authority injustice and domination. Obedience and tolerance can’t be the way to freedom rather defiance (protest) and revolt are inevitable.

Critical Thinking: This essay as a speech has given a full credit for action done in accordance to human nature. It has opened up the eyes of people/public to evaluate everything reasonably. Compromise to any domination is a crime. This philosophy for personal rights and freedom is ok. Still some disagreeable points can be raised here. Can we always  go against all types of system? Can defiance always become constructive tool to freedom? Are all traditions worthless? What can we say to patience and non-violence of Mahatma Gandhi regarding protest? Are not there other Gods besides Greeks Gods? But the messages of revolt against injustices can’t be discarded fully.

Assimilation: After going through his speech I got shocked Sooner I went 10 years back in my school days. When I was studying in class five I had to face a bitter criticism of my class teacher. Any of the boys of our class had written pornographic (rough) sentences on the wall of the classroom. When the teacher came into classroom, the accusation came over me because other boys were clever. I was innocent then, so I couldn’t defend t all. Now I regret myself about it. I wish I should have defended against it at the right moment. I should have told directly the teacher about my non-involvement in that work. I should have fought against the injustice that I had to fought accept them.

c. According to Salman Rushdie “defiance is an inevitable and essential aspect for freedom and right”. Do you agree with him? Why and how?

When a person get chances to work in accordance with his/ her personal choice it is called freedom. Freedom, in other words, means the condition of not being controlled by anyone in doing something. It is not only for action, it can be about thinking and any topics. According to Salman Rushdie, if we want freedom and rights we have to defend it. We have to protest and fight against any types of injustices and dominations. Tolerating the injustices and being obedient to someone is crime itself. Again, actual freedom and personal rights can be gained by protest not by begging and request.

The meaning of ‘defiance’ given by Rushdie is applicable in all walks of our life. In education, in social life or family relation and others. Everywhere protest and voice against injustices must be raised anyhow. Again, we should not connect the meaning of defiance with the present contexts of Nepal. There is always ‘Chakka Jam’ and ‘Bandh’-like activities giving tensions to common people, it is too bed. What I agree with Salman Rushdie’s idea is that we shouldn’t accept and compromise the crime by any cost. But in the name of protest we should not even by forgetting, do such activities what hamper others. There innocent and over loyal people should get some lesson from this speech about what to do to get freedom and rights.